With nearly 100 titles in McKinsey’s 2026 annual book recommendations, where should you start? See which books fellow readers are adding to their lists, across genres and perspectives. These reader favorites offer fresh ideas, memorable stories, and a starting point for your next great read. Browse the most-saved titles below, then explore the full collection to discover even more books worth reading.
AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter by Josh Tyrangiel
Recommended by Nicholas Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic; author, The Running Ground: A Father, a Son, and the Simplest of Sports
“Tyrangiel is one of the smartest writers in the world on AI, and in this book, he looks at how the technology—not the companies that make it—is going to change the world.”
A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains by Max Bennett
Recommended by Daron Acemoglu, institute professor of economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Nobel laureate, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences
“This book provides a highly readable synthesis of a range of biological hypotheses about why animal intelligence has emerged and uses that to shed light on how to think about AI. We need to understand how human intelligence differs from artificial intelligence to best work out how to combine AI with human capabilities.”
The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life by Morgan Housel
Recommended by Gautam Kumra, senior partner and chair for Asia (ex-China), McKinsey, and coauthor of the forthcoming Shapers and Founders: The Untold Stories of Asia’s Extraordinary Owner-CEOs
“In this phase of life, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to best optimize my most valuable resources to live in a more contented and meaningful way. I’m hoping to get some practical, thought-provoking advice on how to better align my aspirations, intentions, and goals toward building a richer (in all senses of the word!) life.”
A Beginner’s Guide to Dying by Simon Boas
Recommended by Raju Narisetti, partner and leader, McKinsey Global Publishing and Marketing, McKinsey
“In a crowded genre, Simon Boas offers a clear-eyed, pragmatic, searingly honest, and deeply moving perspective on mortality that ultimately becomes a guide to living well. Also, when was the last time a book title made you smile?”
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant
Recommended by Ginni Rometty, cochair, SkillsRight; former chair and CEO, IBM
“AI is reshaping every job and skill set. Adam Grant’s argument has never been more urgent: Potential is less about where you start and more about how you grow. A skills-first mindset is the only way to lead right now.”
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
Recommended by Tracy Francis, senior partner and managing partner for Latin America, McKinsey
“This book is my beach read pick for July. I read a review in the Financial Times that said the book is ‘profound and resplendent.’ May we all do something in our lives worthy of such praise!”